Blight program gains success

Published 8:31 pm, Monday, August 31, 2009

Blight program

gains success

I am writing to commend the city of Bridgeport's anti-blight program for its prompt removal of graffiti at BAYM's Community Technology Center. Recently, vandals who have defaced many properties in Bridgeport covered our facility on Connecticut Avenue and Logan Street in Bridgeport's East End with graffiti. The next day, workers removed the graffiti and restored our building to its original appearance.

It is critical that we continue to allocate resources for city programs that improve and maintain the appearance of our city. Thank you, city of Bridgeport!

During the last days of their summer vacation, about 50 education staff members made up of teachers and paraprofessionals voluntarily attended a professional development training on autism. I want to thank these teachers and paraprofessionals for their dedication to their students and their commitment to increase their knowledge to better understand their students' needs and learning styles.

Attendance wasn't mandatory. I'm sure more would have attended, but could not for various reasons. I've seen many examples of Milford's educators extending themselves beyond what is required of them. I appreciate their efforts.

I also want to thank the pupil personnel department for presenting much needed training in the area of autism.

I think this is the wrong time to lower state sales tax; we need the revenue and 0.5 percent is not a lot to people buying but is a lot to the state revenue. Also, raising sales tax on cigarettes $1 is too much and only hurting people smoking. And it only goes into the general fund not as it should be to help stop people from smoking.

Also, eliminating the inheritance tax is only for the wealthy; why shouldn't they pay? And what happened to the bottle bill, charging 5-cent deposits on all bottles including water bottles? That's a big loss of revenue.

And what about more weigh stations for all the roads entering the state of Connecticut? Also, there should be tolls on all major highways entering the state just like Massachusetts and New York. And increase the fines for using cell phone while driving and also texting while driving

There are a lot of other things we could be doing but it seems nothing gets done and we are always the last ones to do anything.

If a budget does not get passed within the first two months, the legislative branch should not be paid, until it is passed, to feel the pain that we do and all the organizations that depend upon the state for help.

I was delighted to read the article in the Aug. 28 Connecticut Post about naming the Penfield Pavilion II in honor of the former first selectman, Jacquelyn Durrell. Jackie was a good friend of mine and a great first selectman.

The article goes on to say a committee would like to name the gazebo in her honor. I feel the name "Sherman Green Gazebo" should remain as is. Marcia Miner's statement "she made it happen" is inaccurate. I brought the thought of building the gazebo on Sherman Green to Jackie and she agreed it was a good idea. The gazebo was built totally by volunteers and donations -- at no cost to the town. It would be unfair to all the people who donated their labor, materials and time to the construction of the gazebo.

I am very proud of the Sherman Green Gazebo and still keep a watchful eye over it. I have a scrapbook documenting the construction and the many article about the gazebo if anyone would care to review it.

The Sherman Green Gazebo will celebrate its 25th anniversary next June and I am looking forward to helping celebrate the event.

I would like to respond to Eric Ford of Bridgeport regarding his recent letter about The Gathering of the Vibes.

First, Bridgeport residents did get a discounted price to attend. I live in Stratford and paid $80 to attend each of three days for a total of $240; Bridgeport residents were able to purchase a three-day pass (with proof of residence) for only $75. Next, as far as lack of beach access, I frequented Seaside Park this summer. The beach access allotted residents for those three days was more than substantial.

In closing, let me say that the bodegas, restaurants and liquor stores on Park and Iranistan avenues did a brisk business. Bridgeport residents, if you do not want visitors in your city ... might as well leave Steel Point a ghost town.